In Remembrance of Jack Vance

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(Quote from the official Jack Vance website)

On a day when posts about Jack Vance abound, another one may simply be white noise. When one of the greats in the world of Fantasy and Science Fiction passes away, I often find myself in the position of lamenting having not read their work while they were alive. Later on when I pick up one of their books I feel that small pang of regret that I cannot express my appreciation, whether said author would ever see it or not.

Gratefully this is not the case with Jack Vance, and thus I thought I might use the opportunity of his passing to remember my small but significant exposure to his work, and in the process hopefully encourage you to give him a try.

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Spectrum Memories: John Picacio

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Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2 took place May 17-19, 2013 here in Kansas City, Missouri. For those who are unaware, the SFAL events are a celebration of the very best in fantastic art. And when I say “very best”, I do mean it. Here you will see traditional art, digital art, and sculpture that ranges from pop art to fine art. It is a show that demonstrates the incredible talent and diversity present in the world of Fantastic Art. I went into the show with sky-high expectations given how special the inaugural event was in 2012 and those expectations were shattered. It was a memorable experience and I want to share some of those memories with you.

My intention in sharing these memories is entirely selfish, though perhaps not in the way that you expect. I share these memories first of all as a way to acknowledge and thank Cathy and Arnie Fenner and their dedicated crew for the hard work that goes into pulling together a show of this quality and magnitude. I also share these memories because I think it is important for the artists to know how much it means when they make a personal connection with their fan base. The selfish reason is this: I want Spectrum Fantastic Art Live to be a fixture here in Kansas City, and in order for that to be the case, YOU need to be here. While we are anxiously awaiting word as to whether or not there will be a Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 3, it is important to me to plant these seeds in your mind right now, to show you that these are experiences you could be having for yourself. Most of what I have to share in regards to what I experienced is what every other fan who went to SFAL2 experienced. And all for $40 for the weekend. That is just crazy to think about.

So pull up a chair and listen to your science fiction and fantasy art loving blogger, me, reminisce about the wonder that was Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2, one artist at a time.

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An Open Letter of Gratitude to Cathy and Arnie Fenner

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(Image property of Spectrum Fantastic Art Live)

On Friday afternoon, May 17th, 2013, after cryptic references on the Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 2 page about “there’s no telling what the future may bring” the incomparable Cathy and Arnie Fenner announced that the upcoming twentieth volume of Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art would be their last. They officially retired. The awe-inspiring annual collection of art will continue, a passing of the torch occurred that I will reference later, but the end of an era has nonetheless come upon us and I join many who cannot help but feel a bittersweet melancholy over the news.

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Star Trek: Into Darkness

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I’ll admit, I was among the first naysayers when word leaked out that the Star Trek franchise was returning to the big screen in a reboot format. I grew up with Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Uhura, Chekov, Sulu, and–of course–the starship Enterprise. I possessed a dedication to these characters and the actors who portrayed them that precluded any excitement about someone else stepping into their shoes. That affection remains to this day. However, I also mentioned at the time that I would be the first to sing the praises of J.J. Abrams if he managed to create something special. When Star Trek was released in 2009 opinions fell all along the spectrum from “hated it” to “loved it”, mine came to rest on the later end.

Enter Star Trek: Into Darkness, a film that I now had very high expectations for because of the efforts of J.J. Abrams and the cast to stay true to the spirit of the original Star Trek while updating it for a contemporary audience in the first film. Would these increased expectations have the opposite effect, leaving me with a more tepid response to the second film?

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Eclectic Musings of a Renaissance Geek